liniv.of  Ill.  Library 

54 

iio 


Oak  Street 
UNCLASSIFIED 


THE  ELECTRIC  BUREAU 


OF  THE 


DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  SERVICE 


CITY  OF  CHICAGO 


ROOM  613,  CITY  HALL 
Telephones:  Main  236;  Automatic  32-854 


MONTAGUE  FERRY,  Commissioner 


OCTOBER  1,  1914 


y*M¥ER$ITY  05  "  '  S  LIBRARY 


FEB  15  1919 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Page 


General  . 

Tentative  Rules  for  Electric  Service  of  the  State  Public  Utilities  Commis¬ 
sion  of  Illinois  . . . 

Proposed  Ordinance  Providing  for  the  Test,  Inspection,  Sealing  and  Adjust¬ 
ment  of  Consumers’  Electric  Meters . . . 

Rates  . 

Complaints  . 

Electric  Service  Inspection  . 

Voltage  Regulation  . 


4 

8 

10 

13 

16 

18 


BUREAU  ORGANIZATION. 

Supervisor  of  Electric  Light  and  Power  . C.  E.  ScliuLt 

Assistant  Supervisor  of  Electric  Light  and  Power  . F.  J.  Leimer 

Service  Inspectors  Special  Investigators 

Meter  Testers  Stenographers 


U.  Of  ,AL  UB. 


September  26,  1914. 


To  the  Hon.  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor, 

and  Aldermen  of  the  City  Council  Assembled: 

Gentlemen:  — 

I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a  report  of  the  Electric  Bureau  of 
the  Department  of  Public  Service. 

The  work  of  this  Bureau  is  in  charge  of  Supervisor  C.  E.  Schutt,  who  has 
had  many  years’  experience  as  consulting  engineer  in  the  electrical  field.  He 
has  done  expert  work  for  municipalities  in  Indiana  and  Ohio,  and  has  had 
operating  experience  in  several  utility  companies.  I  consider  the  results  ac¬ 
complished  by  Mr.  Schutt  during  the  summer  to  be  very  important.  His  de¬ 
fense  of  the  interests  of  Chicago  in  connection  with  the  electric  rules  pro¬ 
posed  to  be  issued  by  the  State  Public  Utilities  Commission  of  Illinois  was 
very  ably  conducted  before  the  Commission  on  July  16th,  last. 

An  ordinance  covering  the  testing  of  electric  meters  is  submitted  in  the 
report  and  has  been  referred  to  your  Committee  on  Gas,  Oil  and  Electric  Light 
for  attention. 

A  valuable  public  service  is  being  rendered  in  the  work  of  service  inspec¬ 
tion  with  the  result  that  a  knowledge  of  the  application  of  rates  and  the  qual¬ 
ity  of  service  is  being  obtained  which  could  not  be  secured  in  any  other  way. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

M.  FERRY, 

Commissioner  of  Public  Service. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/electricbureauofOOchic 


GENERAL. 


The  activities  of  the  Electric  Bureau  during  the  months  of  July,  August 
and  September  has  been  confined  chiefly  to  six  problems. 

(1)  Service  conditions  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 

(2)  Analyses  of  the  factors  affecting  the  consumers’  bills  for  electricity. 

(3)  Rules  for  electric  service — State  Commission. 

(4)  Complaints. 

(5)  Statistics. 

(6)  Elevated  railways  valuation  (Special  Items). 

Investigation  of  conditions  under  which  electricity  is  being  sold  has  led  to 
action  looking  toward  standardization.  An  ordinance  covering  meter  tests  is 
needed;  the  proposed  ordinance*  (page  8),  drawn  to  conform  with  state  stat¬ 
utes,  should  be  passed  and  enforced. 

Rate  problems  require  detailed  analysis  to  determine  reasonableness  of 
rates  as  affecting  the  income  of  the  utility  companies,  and  injustice  or  discrim¬ 
ination  in  rate  fixing.  Tangible  results  may  be  attained  by  explaining  to  eon- 
sumers  the  factors  affecting  their  bills. 

The  handling  of  complaints  has  occupied  considerable  time — well  spent. 
Much  valuable  assistance  has  been  rendered  consumers  and  in  a  number  of 
cases  important  facts  have  been  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  department — 
notably,  considerations  involved  in  the  furnishing  of  service  to  consumers 
where  street  mains  must  be  extended.  Since  August,  the  Commonwealth  Edi¬ 
son  Company  has,  due  to  retrenchments,  failed  to  furnish  prospective  consum¬ 
ers  with  service  where  an  extension  of  mains  was  necessary,  unless  the  con¬ 
sumer  deposits  with  the  company  a  sum  equal  to  the  cost  of  making  such 
extension. 


SERVICE  IS  DENIED. 

The  previous  practice  of  the  company,  that  of  extending  service  to  all  who 
ask  it  has  educated  the  public  to  consider  electric  service  as  available  to  all 
residents  of  Chicago.  A  rude  awakening  has  brought  the  people  face  to  face 
with  the  problem  of  obtaining  this  commodity  which  has  come  to  be  regarded 
as  a  universal  necessity. 

The  collection  of  valuable  information  regarding  the  present  existing  reg¬ 
ulatory  measures  and  compliance  therewith  is  being  constantly  pursued. 

The  problem  of  solving  the  tangled  conditions  affecting  the  supplying  of 
electricity  to  consumers  is  one  that  is  constantly  engaging  the  attention  of 
regulating  bodies.  In  attempting  a  solution  scientific  treatment  and  analysis 
may  not  be  considered  apart  from  practical  considerations.  New  factors  are 
being  discovered  which  may  either  simplify  matters  or  cause  further  com¬ 
plications. 

Much  engineering  work  must  be  done  by  Chicago  coupled  with  investiga¬ 
tion  of  our  local  conditions.  Other  states  and  municipalities  are  compiling  in¬ 
formation  and  performing  research  work  for  the  improvement  of  conditions  at 
large.  Their  findings  are  of  value  as  a  guide  to  similar  work  in  Chicago.  But 
the  problems  peculiar  to  this  city  are  of  such  great  local  importance  as  to  re* 
quire  thorough  analysis  and  persistent  investigation, 


TENTATIVE  RULES  FOR  ELECTRIC  SERVICE  OF  THE 
STATE  PUBLIC  UTILITY  COMMISSION  OF  ILLINOIS. 


The  State  Public  Utility  Commission  of  Illinois  since  July  of  this  year  has 
had  before  it  the  question  of  rules  regarding  the  supply  of  electricity.  Repre¬ 
sentatives  of  the  City  of  Chicago  recently  appeared  before  the  Commission 
with  the  contention  that  in  framing  rules,  adequate  consideration  had  not 
been  given  to  Chicago  conditions  and  asked  for  certain  changes. 

In  the  comparison  set  forth  below,  the  proposed  rules  of  the  State  Public 
Utility  Commission  of  Illinois  are  printed  with  the  required  changes  and 
comments. 

Rule  15.  Creeping  Meters.  No  electricity  meter  which  registers 
upon  “no  load’’  shall  be  placed  in  service  or  allowed  to  remain  in 
service. 

Rule  16.  Allowable  Errors.  No  electricity  meter  shall  be  placed  in 

*  service  or  allowed  to  remain  in  service  which  has  an  incorrect  register 
constant,  test  constant,  gear  ratio,  or  dial  train,  or  which  has  an  error 
in  measurement  in  excess  of  4%  between  one-tenth  and  full  connected 
load. 

These  two  rules  are  covered  in  the  proposed  city  ordinances  as  follows: 
“When  any  consumer’s  meter  is  tested  as  in  this  section  provided  and  is  found 
inaccurate,  it  shall  be  adjusted  so  as  to  register  within  one  percent  (1%)  any 
and  all  amounts  of  electricity  passing  through  the  said  meter  when  such 
amounts  are  between  ten  percent  (10%)  of  and  one  hundred  percent  (100%) 
of  the  rated  capacity  of  the  said  meter. 

“Any  meter  which  cannot  be  adjusted  as  hereinbefore  provided  or  any 
meter  which  ‘creeps’  or  registers  when  no  electricity  is  passing  through  the 
same,  shall  be  removed  from  service  within  thirty  days  after  notice  thereof 
given  by  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service,  to  the  seller.” 

Rule  16  is  completely  covered  also  by  an  already  existing  city  ordinance. 

Rule  17.  Installation  Tests.  Each  watt-hour  meter  shall  be  checked 
for  correct  connection,  mechanical  conditions,  suitable  location  and  ac¬ 
curacy  of  measurement  at  approximately  three-quarters  and  one-tenth 
connected  load  by  comparing  the  meter  with  approved  suitable  stand¬ 
ards  in  its  permanent  position  in  place  of  service  within  thirty  days 
after  installation.  Meters  operating  at  low  power-factor  shall  also  be 
tested  at  approximately  the  minimum  power-factor  under  which  they 
will  be  required  to  operate.  Meters  installed  with  instrument  trans¬ 
formers  or  shunts  must  be  tested  jointly  with  transformers  or  shunts, 
otherwise,  the  ratio  of  transformation  of  the  transformers  or  calibration 
of  the  shunts  must  be  determined  at  least  once  every  five  years. 

“All  consumers’  meters  hereafter  installed  shall  be  tested  as  hereinafter  pre¬ 
scribed  within  ninety  (90)  days  after  such  installation.  Such  test  shall  be 
termed  within  the  meaning  of  this  ordinance,  ‘installation  test.’  ” 

Rule  18.  Periodic  Tests.  Each  watt-hour  meter  shall  be  tested  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  following  schedule  and  adjusted  whenever  it  is  found  to 
be  in  error  more  than  one  percent,  the  test  both  before  and  after  ad¬ 
justment  being  made  at  approximately  three-quarters  and  one-tenth  of 
the  rated  capacity  of  the  meter.  Meters  operated  at  low  power-factor 
shall  also  be  tested  at  approximately  the  minimum  power-factor  under 
which  they  will  be  required  to  operate.  The  tests  shall  be  made  by 
comparing  the  meter,  while  connected  in  its  permanent  position  on  the 
consumer’s  premises  with  approved,  suitable  standards,  making  at  least 
two  test  runs  at  each  load,  of  at  least  thirty  seconds  each,  which  agree 
within  one  percent. 

Two  and  three  wire  commutating  type  and  mercury  type  meters  up 
to  and  including  fifty  (50)  amperes  rated  capacity  of  meter  element 
shall  be  tested  at  least  once  every  eighteen  (18)  months, 


4 


Two  and  three  wire  commutating  type  and  mercury  type  meters  of 
over  fifty  (50)  amperes  rated  capacity  of  meter  element,  shall  be  tested 
at  least  once  every  twelve  (12)  months. 

Two  and  three  wire  single  phase  induction  type  meters,  up  to  and 
including  twenty-five  (25)  amperes  rated  capacity  of  meter  element,  and 
manufactured  prior  to  January  1,  1907,  shall  be  tested  at  least  once 
every  thirty  (30)  months.  Meters  of  the  same  type  and  rating  manu¬ 
factured  since  January  1,  1907,  shall  be  tested  at  least  once  every  thirty- 
six  (36)  months. 

Two  and  three  wire  single  phase  induction  type  meters  of  over  twen¬ 
ty-five  (25)  amperes  rated  capacity  of  meter  element,  shall  be  tested 
at  least  once  every  twenty-four  (24)  months. 

Self  contained  polyphase  meters  up  to  and  including  50  K.  W.  rated 
capacity,  shall  be  tested  at  least  once  every  eighteen  (18)  months. 

Self  contained  polyphase  meters  of  over  50  K.  W.  shall  be  tested  at 
least  once  every  twelve  (12)  months. 

Polyphase  meters  connected  through  current  transformers  or  cur¬ 
rent  and  potential  transformers,  to  circuits  of  over  fifty  (50)  K.  W. 
rated  capacity,  shall  be  tested  at  least  once  every  eighteen  (18)  months. 

In  no  case  shall  commutator  type  meters  having  heavy  moving  ele¬ 
ments  and  sapphire  jewels,  be  allowed  to  make  more  than  1,000,000 
revolutions  between  tests.  Where  meters  are  found  to  register  consid¬ 
erably  in  error  when  tested  on  the  above  schedule  the  Commission  re¬ 
serves  the  right  to  order  the  particular  meter  or  class  of  meters  tested 
more  frequently. 

An  objection  was  offered  before  the  Commission  to  the  complexity  of  this 
rule.  The  proposed  ordinance  of  the  City  of  Chicago  covers  the  subject  of 
periodic  tests  in  the  following  manner:  “All  consumers’  meters  shall  be  tested 
as  hereinafter  prescribed  at  least  once  in  every  two  years.  Such  tests  shall  be 
termed  ‘periodic  tests.’  ” 

Rule  19.  Meter  Tests  Records.  Whenever  an  electricity  meter  is 
tested  the  original  test  record  shall  be  kept  indicating  the  information 
necessary  for  identifying  the  meter,  the  reasons  for  making  the  test,  the 
reading  of  the  meter  before  being  disturbed,  the  statement  regarding 
creepage  and  the  accuracy  of  measurement  together  with  all  data  taken 
at  the  time  of  the  test.  This  record  must  be  sufficiently  complete  to 
permit  the  convenient  checking  of  the  methods  and  the  calculations.  All 
utilities  having  more  than  250  electricity  meters  in  service  shall  main¬ 
tain  a  meter  record,  numerically  arranged,  indicating  approximately 
when  the  meter  was  purchased,  its  identification,  its  various  places  of 
installation  with  dates  of  installation  and  removal  and  the  data  and 
general  results  of  all  tests,  and  shall  tabulate  the  results  of  tests  ac¬ 
cording  to  type  of  meters  and  intervals  of  tests,  compiled  monthly  and 
annually. 

This  rule  is  covered  both  in  an  existing  city  ordinance  and  in  Section  10 
of  the  proposed  ordinance. 

Rule  20.  Meter  Testing  Equipment.  Each  utility  furnishing  metered 
electric  service  shall  own  suitable  working  standards  for  the  testing  of 
electricity  meters  and  even  maintain  these  standards  correct  within 
one-half  of  one  percent  or  apply  the  proper  correction  to  all  tests.  Sec¬ 
ondary  standards  of  some  approved  type  shall  be  owned  and  maintained 
by  each  utility  having  more  than  250  electricity  meters  in  service. 

In  the  proposed  city  ordinance  covering  the  testing  of  electric  meters,  the 
maintenance  of  standard  instruments  is  not  required  by  the  sellers  of  elec¬ 
tricity.  Such  companies,  however,  as  do  maintain  proper  standards  and 
methods  of  testing  may  be  allowed  to  make  installation  and  periodic  tests 
upon  meters  belonging  to  them  under  provision  as  follows: 

“Section  4,  Paragraph  2.  All  installation  tests  and  all  periodic  tests  shall 
be  made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  or  his  representative,  or  by 
such  person  or  persons  competent  to  make  such  tests,  as  the  Commissioner 
of  Public  Service  shall,  in  writing,  authorize.  Such  tests  shall  be  made  at 
the  expense  of  the  seller  and  the  said  seller  shall  pay  for  all  such  tests 
made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  or  his  representative,  to  the 
Collector  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  the  fee  or  fees  hereinafter  prescribed.” 

5 


Rule  21.  Request  Tests.  Each  utility  furnishing  metered  electric 
service  shall  make  a  test  of  the  accuracy  of  any  electricity  meter 
upon  request  of  the  consumer,  provided  the  consumer  does  not  request 
such  tests  more  frequently  than  once  in  six  months.  A  report  giving 
the  result  of  each  request  test  shall  be  made  to  the  consumer  and  the 
complete,  original  record  kept  on  file  in  the  office  of  the  utility. 

Rule  22.  Referee  Tests.  Any  electricity  meter  may  be  tested  by 
an  inspector  employed  by  the  commission,  upon  written  application  of 
the  consumer.  For  such  test  a  fee  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  commis¬ 
sion  by  the  consumer  when  making  application;  the  amount  of  this 
fee  shall  be  refunded  to  the  consumer  by  the  utility  if  the  meter  is 
found  to  be  fast  beyond  the  4%  limit.  The  amount  of  fee  to  be  col¬ 
lected  for  these  tests  so  made  shall  be  $2.00.  For  each  single  phase 
or  continuous  current  electricity  meter  having  a  voltage  rating  not 
exceeding  250  volts,  and  a  current  capacity  not  exceeding  25  amperes 
without  having  instrument  transformers;  for  other  electricity  meters 
having  a  capacity  not  exceeding  100  amperes  the  test  fee  shall  be  $4.00 
per  meter;  for  all  others  the  fee  shall  be  $8.00  per  meter. 

The  provisions  of  these  two  rules  of  the  State  Commission  are  covered 
in  the  proposed  city  ordinance  as  follows: 

“Section  3,  Paragraph  3.  Whenever  any  person  shall  make  application 
to  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  for  a  test  of  any  consumer’s  meter,  and 
shall  present  the  receipt  hereinafter  prescribed,  such  test  as  hereinafter  pre¬ 
scribed  shall  be  made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  or  his  repre¬ 
sentative,  and  shall  be  termed  within  the  meaning  of  this  ordinance  ‘com¬ 
plaint  test.’  ” 

“Section  4,  Paragraph  1.  Any  person  making  application  for  complaint 
test  shall  deposit  with  the  Collector  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  the  fee  or  fees 
hereinafter  prescribed  and  he  shall  receive  from  the  said  Collector  of  the 
City  of  Chicago,  a  receipt,  which  shall  state  the  amount  of  the  fee  or  fees 
deposited,  the  name  of  the  person  making  said  application,  the  name  of  the 
seller,  the  location  of  the  said  consumer’s  meter,  the  rating  of  the  said  con¬ 
sumer’s  meter  in  amperes  and  the  voltage  of  the  connected  circuit.” 

The  fees  for  the  test  of  any  electric  meter  by  the  City  of  Chicago  are 
provided  in  Section  7  of  said  ordinance  and  the  test  which  shall  be  applied  to 
any  meter  is  defined  in  Section  8,  Paragraph  3,  of  said  ordinance. 

Rule  26.  Extension  of  Street  Mains.  Every  electric  utility  should 
set  free  two  (2)  poles  and  furnish  free  necessary  wires  for  an  exten¬ 
sion,  up  to  200  feet,  of  an  overhead  street  main  for  any  consumer  who 
may  request  such  service. 

Any  street  main  extension  requested  by  a  prospective  consumer 
for  any  point  within  the  corporate  limits  of  any  city  or  village  or  for 
any  immediate  adjacent  suburb  or  addition  to  a  city  or  village  which 
shall  require  a  length  of  line  over  and  above  the  free  limit,  shall  be 
made  under  the  following  conditions:  The  consumer  requesting  such 
service  shall  be  obliged  to  deposit  with  the  electric  company  an  amouni 
equal  to  the  cost  of  such  extension,  and  a  rebate  shall  be  made  to  the 
consumer  whose  service  shall  be  taken  off  of  said  extension  within  a 
period  of  ten  years,  but  at  no  time  shall  the  rebate  which  is  made 
exceed  the  original  deposit  made  by  the  consumer. 

If  the  extension  beyond  the  free  limit  which  is  requested  by  the 
consumer  is  of  such  length  and  the  prospective  business  which  may 
be  developed  from  such  extension  is  so  meager  as  to  make  it  doubtful 
whether  the  business  from  the  extension  will  ever  pay  a  fair  return 
on  the  investment,  the  facts  shall  be  reported  to  the  Utilities  Commis¬ 
sion  for  their  investigation  and  determination  as  to  the  reasonable¬ 
ness  of  such  extension. 

At  the  time  this  rule  was  under  discussion  the  following  objections  were 
offered  by  the  representatives  of  the  City  of  Chicago:  The  rule  recognizes 
no  diversity  of  demands  among  consumers  of  different  classes,  no  com¬ 
parative  value  of  service,  and  no  comparative  value  of  returns.  It  provides 
for  no  method  of  return  to  the  consumer  of  investment  in  extensions  to  an 
isolated  consumer  whose  revenue  should  entitle  him  to  a  quick  return  of  his 
deposit.  The  rule  admits  of  discrimination  between  consumers  in  like  but 

G 


not  identical  positions  in  that  extensions  may  be  made  without  request  or  re¬ 
quest  may  be  demanded.  The  rule  makes  such  deposit  obligatory  when  such 
extension  is  made  upon  request.  Following  is  the  rule  which  was  offered  as 
a  substitute: 


PROPOSED  SUBSTITUTE  FOR  RULE  26— EXTENSION  OF  STREET  MAINS. 

“Every  electric  utility  shall  set  two  (2)  poles  and  furnish  necessary  wires, 
free  of  cost  to  the  consumer,  for  an  extension  up  to  200  feet  of  an  overhead 
street  main,  for  any  consumer  who  may  request  such  service. 

“Any  street  main  extension  requested  by  a  prospective  consumer  for  any 
purpose  other  than  public  lighting  service  for  any  point  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  any  city  or  village,  or  for  any  immediate  adjacent  suburb  or  addition 
to  a  city  or  village  which  shall  require  a  length  of  line  over  and  above  the 
free  limit,  as  herein  defined,  shall  be  made  under  the  following  conditions: 
the  consumer  requesting  such  service  shall  be  required  to  deposit  with  the 
electric  company  an  amount  equal  to  the  cost  of  such  extension  in  excess  of 
the  free  limit  as  defined  above,  and  a  rebate  shall  be  made  to  the  consumer 
equal  to  the  cost  of  the  length  of  free  extension,  for  each  consumer  whose 
service  shall  be  taken  off  said  extension  within  a  period  of  ten  years,  but  at 
no  time  shall  the  rebate  which  is  made  exceed  the  original  deposit  made  by 
the  consumer. 

“This  rule  shall  not  be  construed  to  prohibit  the  entering  into  contract  for 
extension  of  service,  between  a  consumer  and  the  utility,  and  providing  other 
means  of  return  to  consumer  of  the  investment  in  or  deposit  for  extensions  by 
consumer,  provided  such  contract  schedule  is  approved  by  the  Commission  and 
is  applied  without  discrimination. 

“If  the  extension  beyond  the  free  limit  which  is  requested  by  the  consumer 
or  an  extension  for  public  lighting  service  is  of  such  length  and  the  pros¬ 
pective  business  which  may  be  developed  from  such  extension  is  so  meager 
as  to  make  it  doubtful  whether  the  business  from  the  extension  will  ever  pay 
a  fair  return  on  the  investment,  the  facts  shall  be  reported  to  the  Utilities 
Commission  for  their  investigation  and  determination  as  to  the  reasonable¬ 
ness  of  such  extension.” 

Rule  27.  Voltage  Variation.  Each  electric  utility  operating  in  a 
city  having  a  population  of  1,500  or  more  shall  adopt  a  standard  volt¬ 
age  for  the  entire  constant  potential  system  and  shall  maintain  the 
voltage  within  three  percent  of  such  standard  on  all  lighting  circuits 
during  lighting  hours;  on  power  circuits  and  during  other  than  lighting 
hours  the  voltage  shall  be  maintained  within  ten  percent  of  the  stand¬ 
ard.  All  other  electric  utilities  shall  maintain  their  voltage  regulation 
on  all  constant  potential  circuits  during  lighting  hou,rs  so  that  the 
maximum  voltage  furnished  any  consumer  shall  not  be  more  than  six 
percent  above  the  minimum  voltage  at  that  consumer’s  cut-out. 

Rule  27.  The  city  ordinance  of  1913  fixing  the  maximum  rates  for 
electricity  furnished  by  the  Commonwealth-Edison  Company  provides: 
“The  voltage  on  any  of  said  Commonwealth-Edison  Company’s  distrib¬ 
uting  lines  from  which  electricity  for  lighting  purposes  is  furnished, 
shall,  as  measured  at  the  consumer’s  service,  not  vary  more  than  five 
percent  (5%)  either  above  or  below  the  normal  voltage  carried  by  the 
circuit  upon  which  the  service  is  rendered;  provided,  however,  that 
variations  due  to  accidents  or  local  conditions  over  which  said  Company 
has  no  immediate  control,  shall  not  be  considered  a  violation  of  this 
provision  until  said  Company  shall  have  had  notice  in  writing  from  a 
consumer  affected  and  thirty  (30)  days’  time  in  which  to  correct  such 
conditions.” 

That  a  rule  demanding  very  close  voltage  regulation  when  applied  to  the 
general  case  of  distribution  may  work  injustice  both  upon  the  operating 
company  and  the  public  was  set  forth  in  an  argument  presented  to  the  State 
Commission  at  the  time  this  rule  was  up  for  consideration.  (See  “Voltage 
Regulation.”) 


7 


PROPOSED  ORDINANCE  PROVIDING  FOR  THE  TEST,  IN¬ 
SPECTION,  SEALING  AND  ADJUSTMENT  OF 
CONSUMERS’  ELECTRIC  METERS. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago  that: 

Section  1.  The  Duty  of  Commissioner  of  Public  Service.  Paragraph  1.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  to  provide  for  the 
test,  inspection,  sealing  and  adjustment  of  all  meters  as  hereinafter  defined, 
used  or  to  be  used  in  the  City  of  Chicago  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  this  ordinance. 

Section  2.  Definition  of  Seller  and  Consumer’s  Meter.  Paragraph  1.  The 
term  “seller”  when  used  in  this  ordinance  shall  mean  and  include  any  cor¬ 
poration,  company,  association,  joint  stock  company  or  association,  firm,  part¬ 
nership,  managing  committee  or  individual,  their  lessees,  trustees  or  receiv¬ 
ers  appointed  by  any  court  whatsoever  (except,  however,  such  public  utilities 
as  may  now  or  hereafter  be  owned  or  operated  by  any  municipality),  that  now 
or  hereafter  may  own,  control,  operate  or  manage  within  the  City  of  Chicago, 
directly  or  indirectly,  any  plant,  equipment  or  property  used  or  to  be  used 
for  or  in  connection  with  the  production,  storage,  transmission  for  sale,  deliv¬ 
ery,  or  furnishing  of  electricity,  within  the  City  of  Chicago. 

Paragraph  2.  The  term  “meter”  when  used  in  this  ordinance,  shall  mean 
and  include  each  and  every  electrical  device  that  is  now,  or  that  may  here¬ 
after  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  measuring  the  electricity  supplied  to  any 
consumer  thereof. 

Section  3.  Definitions  of  Tests.  Paragraph  1.  All  consumers’  meters 
hereafter  installed  shall  be  tested  as  hereinafter  prescribed  within  ninety 
(90)  days  after  such  installation.  Such  test  shall  be  termed  within  the  mean¬ 
ing  of  this  ordinance  “Installation  Test”. 

Paragraph  2.  All  consumers’  meters  shall  be  tested  as  hereinafter  pre¬ 
scribed  at  least  once  in  every  two  years.  Such  test  shall  be  termed  within 
the  meaning  of  this  ordinance  “Periodic  Test”. 

Paragraph  3.  Whenever  any  person  shall  make  application  to  the  Com¬ 
missioner  of  Public  Service  for  a  test  of  any  consumer’s  meter,  and  shall  pre¬ 
sent  the  receipt  hereinafter  prescribed,  such  test  as  hereinafter  prescribed 
shall  be  made  by  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  or  his  representative,  and 
shall  be  termed  within  the  meaning  of  this  ordinance  “Complaint  Test”. 

Section  4.  Application  for  Complaint  Test.  Paragraph  1.  Any  person 
making  application  for  complaint  test  shall  deposit  with  the  Collector  of  the 
City  of  Chicago,  the  fee  or  fees  hereinafter  prescribed  and  he  shall  receive 
from  the  said  Collector  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  a  receipt,  which  shall  state  the 
amount  of  the  fee  or  fees  deposited,  the  name  of  the  person  making  said  ap¬ 
plication,  the  name  of  the  seller,  the  location  of  the  said  consumer’s  meter,  the 
rating  of  the  said  consumer’s  meter  in  amperes  and  the  voltage  of  the  con¬ 
nected  circuit. 

Paragraph  2.  All  installation  tests  and  all  periodic  tests  shall  be  made  by 
the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  or  his  representatives,  or  by  such  person 
or  persons  competent  to  make  such  tests,  as  the  Commissioner  of  Public 
Service  shall,  in  writing,  authorize.  Such  tests  shall  be  made  at  the  expense 
of  the  seller  and  the  said  seller  shall  pay  for  all  such  tests  made  by  the  Com¬ 
missioner  of  Public  Service  or  his  representative,  to  the  Collector  of  the  City 
of  Chicago,  the  fee  or  fees  hereinafter  prescribed. 

Paragraph  3.  The  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  or  his  representative 
may  inspect,  test  or  seal  any  consumer’s  meter  at  all  reasonable  hours. 

Section  5.  Notification  of  Test.  Paragraph  1.  At  least  forty-eight  (4S) 
hours  before  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  or  his  representative  shall 
make  any  complaint  test  of  any  consumer’s  meter,  the  said  Commissioner  of 
Public  Service  shall  send  a  written  notification  of  such  test  to  both  the  con- 

8 


sumer  and  the  seller  of  electricity  as  stated  in  the  receipt  hereinbefore  de¬ 
scribed.  Such  notification  shall  state  the  time  when  and  the  place  where 
said  test  will  be  made.  Any  interested  party  or  parties  may  be  represented 
at  any  test  of  any  consumer’s  meter. 

Section  6.  Sealing  of  Meters.  Paragraph  1.  Whenever  any  inspection, 
test  or  adjustment  of  any  consumer’s  meter  shall  be  made,  the  person  or  per¬ 
sons  making  such  inspection,  test  or  adjustment,  shall  so  place  a  seal  upon 
the  said  meter  that  the  said  meter  cannot  be  changed,  adjusted  or  opened  in 
any  way  without  breaking  the  said  seal.  The  said  seal  shall  indicate  the 
month  and  the  year  when  the  said  seal  was  placed  on  the  said  meter.  No 
person  except  with  the  written  permission  of  the  Commissioner  of  Public 
Service  shall  remove,  break,  change  or  otherwise  tamper  with  any  consumer’s 
meter  bearing  the  seal  of  the  said  Commissioner  of  Public  Service,  or  shali 
remove,  break,  change  or  otherwise  tamper  with  the  said  seal. 

Section  7.  Fees  for  Tests.  Paragraph  1.  The  following  shall  be  the  fee 
or  fees  charged  by  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  for  the  making  of  any 
test  of  consumers’  meters  operating  on  circuits  of  GOO  volts  or  less,  to-wit: 


Amperes,  Rated  Capacity.  Fees. 

10  or  less  . $  1.50 

Over  10  but  not  more  than  15 .  2.00 

Over  15  but  not  more  than  25 .  2.50 

And  for  each  additional  25  amperes  or  fraction  thereof .  0.50 


The  following  shall  be  the  additional  fee  or  fees  charged  by  the  Commis¬ 
sioner  of  Public  Service  for  the  making  of  any  test  of  consumers’  meters  op¬ 
erating  on  circuits  of  more  than  600  volts,  to-wit: 


Volts  in  Circuit.  Fees. 

Over  600  but  not  more  than  2,000 . $  5.00 

And  for  each  additional  1,000  volts  or  fraction  thereof .  2.00 


Paragraph  2.  The  fee  or  fees  for  any  complaint  test  shall  be  paid  by  the 
seller  when  it  is  found  that  the  meter  of  the  said  consumer  is  registering  four 
percent  (4%)  or  more  above  the  amount  of  electricity  actually  passing  through 
the  same. 

Section  8.  Adjustment  and  Test  of  Meters.  Paragraph  1.  When  any  con¬ 
sumer's  meter  is  tested  as  in  this  section  provided  and  is  found  inaccurate, 
it  shall  be  adjusted  so  as  to  register  within  one  per  cent  (1%)  any  and  all 
amounts  of  electricity  passing  through  the  said  meter  when  such  amounts  are 
between  ten  percent  (10%)  of  and  one  hundred  percent  (100%)  of  the  rated 
capacity  of  the  said  meter.  During  the  adjustment  the  voltage  shall  at  all 
times  be  kept  above  ninety-five  percent  (95%)  of  the  rated  voltage  of  the  said 
meter. 

Paragraph  2.  Any  meter  which  cannot  be  adjusted  as  hereinbefore  pro¬ 
vided  or  any  meter  which  “creeps”  or  registers  when  no  electricity  is  passing- 
through  the  same,  shali  be  removed  from  service  within  thirty  (30)  days  after 
notice  thereof  given  by  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service,  to  the  seller. 

Paragraph  3.  Meters  shall  be  tested  and  their  accuracy  determined  as 
follows : 

The  voltage  in  the  circuit  shall  at  all  times  during  the  test  be  kept  above 
ninety-five  percent  (95%)  of  the  rated  voltage  of  the  said  meter.  The  first 
test  shall  be  made  at  between  ten  percent  (10%)  of  and  twenty  percent  (20%) 
of  the  rated  capacity  of  the  said  meter;  and  second  test  shall  be  made  at 
what  shall  hereinafter  be  prescribed  as  the  normal  load  of  the  said  meter;  and 
the  third  and  last  test  shall  be  made  at  more  than  eighty  percent  (80%)  of 
and  less  than  one  hundred  per  cent  (100%)  of  the  rated  capacity  of  the  said 
meter.  The  final  test  or  tests  shall  be  determined  as  follows:  The  result  of 
the  second  test  shall  be  multiplied  by  three  and  to  this  shall  be  added  th  > 
result  of  the  first  and  third  tests  and  the  sum  so  obtained  shall  be  divided  by 
five,  giving  the  final  result. 

Paragraph  4.  The  normal  load  of  a  meter  shall  be  determined  in  per¬ 
centage  of  the  rated  capacity  at  the  rated  voltage  by  classification  of  the 
service  as  follows,  to-wit: 


9 


Percentage  of 

Classification  of  Service.  Rated  Capacity. 

Residence  and  apartment  buildings .  25% 

Elevator  Service  .  40% 

Factories  (individual  drive),  churches  and  offices .  45% 

Factories  (shaft  drive),  theatres,  clubs,  entrances,  hallways  and  general 

store  lighting  .  G0% 

Saloons,  restaurants,  pumps,  air  compressors,  ice  machinery  and  moving 

picture  machines  .  70% 

Signs,  window  lighting  and  blowers . 100% 

Section  9.  Standard  Meters.  Paragraph  1.  There  shall  be  maintained  at 
all  times  in  the  office  of  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  standard  instru¬ 
ments  for  the  measurement  of  electro-motive  force  and  current,  both  alter¬ 
nating  and  direct,  which  instruments  shall  be  accurate  to  within  one-tenth 
(l./10th)  of  one  (1%)  percent  when  compared  with  the  standards  of  the  United 
States  Bureau  of  Standards  and  the  Department  of  Public  Service  shall  have 
these  instruments  sealed  and  certified  by  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Stand¬ 
ards  at  least  once  in  every  six  (6)  months.  The  said  instruments  so  main¬ 
tained  and  kept  shall  be  used  as  primary  standards  for  the  purpose  of  check¬ 
ing  the  working  standards  used  by  said  Commissioner  of  Public  Service. 

Section  10.  Records  and  Reports.  Paragraph  1.  Any  person  or  persons, 
who  shall  under  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance,  make  any  test  or  adjustment 
of  any  consumer’s  meter,  shall  within  thirty  (30)  days  thereafter  file  with 
the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  a  record  of  such  test  or  adjustment  on 
forms  to  be  furnished  by  the  said  Commissioner  of  Public  Service. 

Paragraph  2.  The  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  shall  keep  a  register 
or  registers  in  his  office  in  the  City  Hall  in  which  he  shall  record  the  number 
and  description  of  each  consumer’s  meter  inspected  or  tested  by  him  or  his 
representative  and  the  time  of  such  inspection  or  test  and  the  condition  of  the 
said  consumer’s  meter  when  inspected  or  tested.  Such  records  shall  be  at 
any  reasonable  time  open  to  any  citizen  of  the  City  of  Chicago. 

Paragraph  3.  The  Commissioner  of  Public  Service,  immediately  after 
the  first  of  each  month,  shall  prepare  and  submit  to  the  City  Comptroller  a 
report  of  the  number  of  consumers’  meters  tested  during  the  previous  calendar 
month. 

Section  11.  Police  Aid.  Paragraph  1.  Whenever  it  shall,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  or  his  representative,  be  necessary  to 
call  upon  the  Department  of  Police  for  aid  or  assistance  in  carrying  out  or 
enforcing  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance,  he  shall  have  authority  to 
do  so,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  Department  of  Police  or  any  member 
thereof,  when  called  upon  by  the  said  Commissioner  of  Public  Service  or  his 
representative,  to  act  in  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  and  to  perform 
such  duties  as  may  be  required  by  him  by  legal  measures  to  enforce  or  put 
into  effect  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance. 

Section  12.  Penalty  for  Violations.  Paragraph  1.  Any  person  or  persons, 
firm,  corporation,  seller  or  consumer  violating  or  refusing  to  comply  with  any 
of  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  Twenty-Five 
($25.00)  Dollars  nor  more  than  One  Hundred  ($100.00)  Dollars  for  each  offense. 
A  separate  and  distinct  offense  shall  be  held  to  have  been  committed  each 
day  any  person,  persons,  firm,  corporation,  seller  or  consumer  violates  or 
fails  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance. 

Section  13.  Repeal  of  Previous  Ordinance.  Paragraph  1.  Sections  838, 
839,  840,  841,  842,  843,  844  and  845  of  the  Civil  Code  of  1911  be  and  the  same 
are  hereby  repealed. 

Section  14.  Ordinance  Effective.  Paragraph  1.  This  ordinance  shall  take 
effect  and  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  passage  and  publication. 


RATES. 

In  1912,  Mr.  Ray  Palmer,  Commissioner  of  Gas  and  Electricity,  made  a 
thorough  investigation  of  the  Commonwealth  Edison  Company’s  valuation 
and  rate  schedules.  The  rates  as  recommended  by  Mr.  Palmer  and  the  changes 
in  the  Commonwealth  Edison  Company’s  rates  thus  brought  about  resulted  in  a 
material  decrease  in  rates  to  consumers  of  electricity  and  the  consequent  sav- 

10 


ing  to  the  citizens  of  many  thousands  of  dollars.  The  fact  that  any  system 
of  rates  is  adequate  as  a  basis  of  charge  only  as  long  as  applied  with  the 
best  of  judgment  and  discretion  was  foreseen  at  this  time,  for  we  find  that 
Mr.  Palmer  recommended  “that  maximum  demand  meters  be  not  installed  in 
future  for  retail  light  and  power,  except  in  cases  where  they  appear  necessary 
for  statistical  purposes,  but  that  maximum  demand  be  determined  from  pres¬ 
ent  data  and  statistics  revised  from  time  to  time  as  conditions  demand.” 

Rate  schedules  for  the  sale  of  electricity  must  be  made  for  a  class  of 
consumers,  rather  than  the  individual,  and  the  basis  of  such  rate  should  be 
the  average  demands  of  the  class.  Assuming  that  the  average  is  properly 
determined,  only  those  consumers  whose  demands  fall  at  the  average  will 
be  paying  for  the  service  in  the  exact  proportion  to  the  cost  to  supply  such 
service. 

That  the  rate  schedules  in  force  in  Chicago  may  seem  complicated  is 
due  to  the  fact  that  they  are  designed  to  allow  the  consumers  who  use  elec¬ 
tricity  economically  to  obtain  a  lower  rate  than  a  consumer  who  is  extrav¬ 
agant.  The  consumer  who  uses  all  his  lights  at  one  time  and  at  the  same 
time  that  everyone  else  is  using  their  lights  is,  in  so  far  as  the  company  is 
concerned,  not  a  profitable  consumer.  On  the  other  hand  the  one  who  uses 
only  a  small  number  of  lights  at  any  one  time  but  burns  these  lights  for  a 
great  number  of  hours  is  a  profitable  consumer  and  should  be  granted  a 
lower  rate.  Apparatus  such  as  electric  irons  are  also  profitable  for  the  com¬ 
pany. 

It  is  easy  enough  to  determine  how  many  lights  a  consumer  has  been 
using  at  one  time  during  the  month  but  to  find  out  just  when  he  used  these 
lights  is  not  possible.  Hence,  from  the  standpoint  of  the  consumer,  economy 
can  be  gained  only  by  exercising  care  and  using  as  few  lamps  as  possible 
at  any  one  time. 

An  analysis  of  the  “General  Service”  schedule  of  the  Commonwealth  Edi¬ 
son  Company  as  shown  on  the  accompanying  set  of  curves,  illustrates  the 
probable  effect  on  residence  lighting  bills  of  variation  in  the  method  of  de¬ 
termining  the  maximum  demand.  A  complete  analysis  of  the  rate  would 
involve  the  making  of  a  very  great  number  of  calculations.  Only  one  case  is 
here  treated.  This  case  deals  with  the  consumer  having  1,500  watts  connected 
loads  in  lights  and  using  an.  electric  iron.  The  lower  curve  shows  the  price 
the  consumer  is  supposed  to  pay  for  using  an  iron  for  two  hours  per  month. 
When  the  maximum  demand  is  determined  from  a  table,  this  cost  ranges 
from  10  cents  down  to  3  cents.  It  is,  however,  practically  impossible  for  a 
residence  consumer  having  a  maximum  demand  meter  to  obtain  this  rate. 

Should  there  be  installed  maximum  demand  meters  and  if  the  service  is 
three  wire,  the  cost  rises  to  a  range  of  10  to  39  cents  for  two  hours’  use 
as  shown  by  curve  3.  Should  the  housewife  desire  to  enjoy  the  sunshine  or 
the  breeze  and  for  this  purpose  remove  her  ironing  to  another  part  of  the 
house,  if  only  for  a  few  minutes,  the  meter  bill  may  now  show  up  35  cents 
larger  than  if  she  had  stayed  in  the  kitchen  and  74  cents  larger  than  if  she 
had  used  no  iron  at  all.  If  the  iron  used  be  one  consuming  600  watts  instead 
of  500,  the  latter  figure  will  be  increased  to  $1.28.  If  lights  are  turned  on 
when  the  iron  is  on,  the  bill  will  be  further  increased. 

Some  note  of  warning  might  be  sounded  but  it  is  feared  the  housewife 
would  learn  to  fear  the  harmless  electric  iron. 

One  consumer  who  entered  a  complaint  with  the  department  has  found 
it  to  his  interest  to  install  Mazda  lamps  in  place  of  the  formerly  used  carbon 
lamps.  He  will  save  enough  in  one  month  to  more  than  pay  for  the  new 
lamps.  Much  good  can  be  done  for  consumers  by  the  establishment  of  a 
source  of  information  along  these  lines.  The  Electric  Bureau  is  endeavoring 
to  so  extend  its  field  of  usefulness. 


11 


ut  or  to.  jb. 


COMPLAINTS. 


No.  2,404.  Condemned  Wiring.  Complainant  wished  to  evade  order  of 
Inspection  Department.  Referred  to  Department  of  Gas  &  Electricity  for  re¬ 
inspection.  Condemnation  confirmed. 

No.  2,432.  Disputed  Bills.  Increase  of  consumption  billed  at  high  rate. 
C.  E.  Co.  asked  for  rating  and  amount  of  bills.  Investigation  showed  that 
consumer  had  connected  load  exceeding  iy2  k.  w.  and  that  company-  had  in¬ 
stalled  maximum  demand  meter.  Bills  were  rendered  correctly  from  the 
demand  meter  readings. 

No.  2,433.  Abandoned  Poles.  Complainant  desired  to  have  old  poles  re¬ 
moved  from  street.  Notice  was  issued  to  the  C.  E.  Co.  to  remove  poles.  PoLes 
were  removed. 

No.  2,436.  Meter  Test.  Application  blank  was  furnished.  Blank  was  not 
returned  and  no  test  made. 

No.  2,437.  Service  Extension.  C.  E.  Co.  apparently  had  refused  service. 
Referred  to  company.  Extension  was  found  to  be  delayed  by  necessity  of  ob¬ 
taining  private  property  permits  for  lines. 

No.  2,438.  Street  Lighting.  A  lamp  reported  out  of  order  and  not  burn¬ 
ing.  Referred  to  Department  of  Gas  &  .Electricity. 

No.  2,439.  Hall  Lighting.  Complainant  stated  that  no  hall  lights  were 
maintained  in  an  apartment  building.  Referred  to  Department  of  Health. 

No.  2,440.  Disputed  Bill.  Consumer  desired  a  maximum  demand  meter  in¬ 
stalled  in  his  residence  on  the  grounds  that  the  estimated  maximum  de¬ 
mand  was  too  high.  Taken  up  with  Public  Service  Co.  of  Nor.  Ills,  and  C.  E. 
Co.,  the  latter  installing  the  maximum  demand  meter. 

No.  2,441.  Disputed  Bill.  Increase  of  consumption  billed  at  high  rate. 
Referred  to  C.  E.  Co.  for  connected  load.  Investigation  showed  that  company 
had  been  billing  less  than  the  estimated  maximum  demand  corresponding  to 
the  connected  load. 

No.  2,442.  Service  Deposit.  Company  making  charge  of  $15.00  to  install 
service  in  garage  of  consumer.  Taken  up  with  company  with  explanation 
that  the  garage  was  located  at  another  address.  Company  replied  that  charge 
was  made  in  error,  thinking  that  garage  was  on  same  premises. 

No.  2,443.  Meter  Test.  Bills  considered  too  high  by  consumer  and  ap¬ 
plication  blank  furnished  and  meter  tested.  Found  to  be  correct  and  explana¬ 
tion  of  probable  correctness  of  bills  furnished  consumer. 

No.  2,444.  Meter  Test.  Application  blank  furnished.  Blank  not  returned 
and  no  test  made. 

No.  2,445.  Disputed  Bills.  Consumer  had  two  service  connections;  one 
being  equipped  with  demand  meters  and  the  other  not.  Consumer  objected 
to  company  adding  the  maximum  demands  and  billing  on  basis  of  the  sum. 
Referred  to  C.  E.  Co.  on  basis  of  separate  contracts  and  asked  for  separate 
bills.  Investigation  showed  that  the  consumer  had  signed  waiver  of  power 
contract  and  company  was  justified  in  billing  as  had  been  ‘practised.  Com¬ 
pany  ordered  consumer  to  remove  lights  from  power  circuit  and  sign  a  power 
contract. 

No.  2,446.  Meter  Test.  Consumers’  bills  were  increasing.  Meter  tested 
and  found  to  be  80%  accurate  and  showed  evidence  of  having  been  tampered 
with.  Windings  of  the  consumers’  motor  were  found  to  be  water  soaked  and 
motor  consumed  full  load  current  when  running  light. 

No.  2,447.  Rate  Explanation.  Consumer  desired  outline  of  method  of  de¬ 
termining  rates  for  lighting  service.  Information  furnished. 

No.  2,448.  Meter  Test.  Application  blank  not  returned.  No  test. 

No.  2,449.  Service  Delay.  Consumer  stated  that  company  was  delaying 
in  furnishing  service  provided  for.  Taken  up  with  company.  They  stated 
service  had  been  completed  on  the  day  previous. 

No.  2,451.  Disputed  Bills.  Complainant  objected  to  bills  on  account  of 
high  maximum  demand  indicated.  Explained  to  consumer  that  bills  appar¬ 
ently  were  correct  and  suggested  that  the  load  turned  on  at  any  one  time 
be  reduced. 


13 


No.  2,452.  Meter  Test.  Consumer  objected  to  high  bills  and  stated  that 
meter  was  being  tampered  with  by  the  owner  of  the  building  who  furnished 
the  current.  Meter  was  tested  and  found  to  be  110.7%  accurate  and  driv¬ 
ing  dog  was  missing  from  the  register. 

No.  2,453.  Meter  Test.  Consumer  complained  of  exorbitant  bill.  Meter 
was  tested  and  found  to  be  93.8%  accurate  and  was  recording  energy  passing 
through  a  leak  in  the  wiring. 

No.  2,454.  Meter  Test.  Consumer  complained  of  exorbitant  bill.  Meter 
was  tested  and  found  to  be  102.5%  accurate  and  was  recording  a  heavy  cur¬ 
rent  leakage  in  the  wiring. 

No.  2.455.  Disputed  Bills.  Back  bill  for  energy  was  rendered  a  consumer 
by  the  C.  E.  Co.  who  stated  that  the  bills  rendered  for  the  past  3y2  years 
were  approximately  1/1 0th  of  correct  bills,  due  to  error  in  reading  by  the 
company’s  meter  readers.  An  investigation  showed  that  the  bills  paid  by 
the  consumer  were  approximately  1/lOth  of  the  consumer’s  estimated  con¬ 
sumption.  Explained  the  situation  to  the  consumer  and  suggested  that  he 
accept  the  company’s  offer  of  compromising  the  bill. 

No.  2,456.  Disputed  Bills.  Consumer  complained  of  high  maximum  de¬ 
mand  charged  for  on  bills.  Bills  analyzed  and  method  of  determining  max¬ 
imum  demand  explained  to  consumer. 

No.  2,457.  Street  Lighting.  Consumer  desired  street  lights  to  be  placed 
in  vicinity  of  his  residence.  Referred  to  Dept,  of  Gas  and  Electricity. 

No.  2,458.  Rates.  Lower  rates  desired  for  Calumet  Park  Commission. 
Complainant  requested  us  to  furnish  statement  of  the  connected  load.  No 
reply  received  and  complaint  still  open  for  action. 

No.  2,459.  Service  Extension.  Petition  for  telephone  and  electric  lighting 
service  made  by .  number  of  citizens.  Investigation  made  and  plats  of  the 
vicinity  referred  to  C.  E.  Co.  and  C.  T.  Co.  Companies  replied  that  the  cost 
of  extension  was  not  justified  by  the  returns. 

No.  2,460.  Service  Refused.  Complainant  stated  that  company  refused 
service  account  of  unpaid  bills  rendered  to  her  mother.  Upon  investigation 
by  the  department  the  consumer  stated  that  the  company  had  agreed  to 
furnish  service. 

No.  2,461.  Disputed  Bills.  A  consumer  refused  to  pay  electric  bills  on 
the  grounds  that  other  circuits  besides  his  own  were  connected  to  the  meter. 
The  company  discontinued  the  service  of  the  consumer  on  account  of  the 
unpaid  bills.  The  department  .investigated  conditions  and  found  that  the 
other  circuits  had  been  removed  from  the  meter  in  the  meantime  by  the 
company.  The  C.  E.  Co.  was  asked  to  compromise  the  bill.  The  bill  was 
compromised  for  $1.00  and  the  consumer’s  service  again  connected. 

No.  2,462.  Meter  Wiring.  Consumer  stated  that  meter  had  been  incor¬ 
rectly  connected.  Investigation  by  the  department  indicated  that  meter  was 
connected  correctly. 

No.  2,463.  Service  Extension.  Deposit  requested  by  C.  E.  Co.  for  exten¬ 
sion  of  lines  to  furnish  service.  Plat  of  vicinity  made  and  referred  to  C.  E. 
Co.  Company  refused  to  furnish  service  without  deposit  for  an  extension. 

No.  2,464.  Service  Extension.  (Same  as  No.  2,463.) 

No.  2,465.  Construction  Charge.  C.  E.  Co.  lines  were  transferred  from 
street  to  alley..  Consumer  objected  to  charge  of  C.  E.  Co.  for  removing  in¬ 
terior  service  connection  to  rear  of  residence.  Investigated  by  this  depart¬ 
ment  and  explanation  given  consumer  that  the  C.  E.  Co.  were  not  required 
to  make  changes  on  interior  wiring  to  accommodate  service  entrance. 

No.  2,466.  Service  Discontinuation.  C.  E.  Co.  notified  consumer  that 
service  would  be  discontinued  unless  bills  of  predecessor  were  paid.  Investi¬ 
gation  by  this  department  showed  that  company  had  not  rendered  bills  to 
the  previous  consumer.  Company  was  asked  to  render  the  bills  to  the  pred¬ 
ecessor  who  promptly  paid  them  and  relieved  the  inconvenience  of  the  com¬ 
plainant. 

No.  2,467.  Inspection  Charges.  Complainant  objected  to  reinspection 
charges  made  by  Inspection  Bureau  of  the  Dept,  of  Gas  and  Electricity.  Expla¬ 
nation  settled  complaint. 

No.  2,468.  Meter  Test.  Consumer  objected  to  high  bills.  Meter  tested  and 
found  correct. 

No.  2,469.  Disputed  Bills  and  Meter  Test.  Consumer  objected  to  bills  for 
electric  service,  stating  that  no  current  had  been  used.  Bills  were  investi* 

14 


gated  and  found  to  agree  with  estimates  of  current  consumption  based  on 
weather  bureau  reports  of  sunshine  and  cloud  records.  Meter  was  tested 
and  found  accurate. 

No.  2,470.  Disputed  Bills.  Consumer  objected  to  high  maximum  demand. 
Bills  were  analyzed  and  found  to  be  apparently  correct. 

No.  2,471.  Guarantee  for  Bills.  Consumer  objected  to  making  guarantee 
deposit  for  bills  at  time  of  application  for  service.  Referred  to  company  who 
stated  that  deposit  would  not  be  required  if  consumer  furnished  references. 
Consumer  notified. 

No.  2,472.  Disputed  Bills.  Consumer  complained  of  high  bills,  stating 
that  his  consumption  had  been  much  less.  An  estimate  of  the  consumption 
by  this  department  was  found  to  agree  with  the  bill  rendered.  Explanation 
accepted. 

No.  2,473.  Payment  Facilities.  Complainant  desired  information  for  lo¬ 
cation  of  offices  for  payment  of  electric  bills.  Referred  to  company  who 
stated  that  a  list  of  such  offices  is  printed  on  the  reverse  side  of  each  bill 
and  named  several  stations  in  the  vicinity  of  the  complainant’s  address.  Re¬ 
ply  of  company  forwarded  to  consumer. 

No.  2,474.  Current  Theft.  Consumer  stated  that  another  occupant  of 
building  had  installed  lights  and  had  connected  the  circuit  to  the  meter  of 
the  complainant.  Investigation  by  the  department  found  the  circuit  on  the 
proper  meter. 

No.  2,475.  Service  Refused.  Complainant  stated  over  telephone  that  serv* 
ice  was  refused  at  complainant’s  address  but  withheld  own  name.  Investiga¬ 
tion  by  this  department  showed  that  the  building  was  receiving  service. 

No.  2,476.  Subway  Lighting.  The  complainant  objected  to  unlighted  sub¬ 
ways  in  the  vicinity  of  his  residence  and  desired  information  as  to  when 
such  lighting  would  be  completed.  Referred  to  Dept,  of  Gas  and  Electricity 
and  information  forwarded  to  complainant. 

No.  2,477.  Disputed  Bills.  Consumer  complained  of  high  maximum  de¬ 
mand  on  bills  rendered.  Bills  were  analyzed  by  the  department  and  the 
consumer  advised  to  reduce  his  connected  load  by  change  of  lamps  and  apply 
for  removal  of  maximum  demand  meter. 

No.  2,478.  Overhead  Wires.  Petition  by  property  owners  to  have  over¬ 
head  wires  placed  underground  in  an  alley  about  to  be  paved.  Referred  to 
Dept,  of  Public  Works. 

No.  2,479.  Service  Extension.  Deposit  required  by  C.  E.  Co.  for  line  ex¬ 
tension  to  supply  service.  Investigated  and  referred  to  C.  E.  Co.  with  plat 
of  vicinity.  C.  E.  Co.  refused  to  make  extension  without  deposit. 

No.  2,480.  Meter  Test.  Consumer  complained  of  high  bills.  Meter  tested 
and  found  92.3%  accurate.  Advised  consumer  to  reduce  consumption  by 
substitution  of  Tungsten  lamps  for  carbon  lamps. 

No.  2,481.  Service  Extension.  (Same  as  No.  2,479.) 

No.  2,482.  Street  Lighting.  Street  lamp  out  of  order  and  not  burning. 
Referred  to  Dept,  of  Gas  and  Electricity. 

No.  2,483.  Service  Extension.  C.  E.  Co.  required  deposit  for  extension 
of  line  to  furnish  service.  Investigated  and  plat  of  vicinity  referred  to  C.  E. 
Co.  with  explanation  that  line  extension  was  unnecessary.  C.  E.  Co.  agreed 
to  install  service  as  suggested  without  deposit. 

No.  2,484.  Service  Delay.  Service  connection  was  delayed  in  the  routine 
of  C.  E.  Co.  Company  notified  of  delay  and  service  was  installed  same  day. 

No.  2,485.  Service  Refused.  C.  E.  Co.  refused  service  to  applicant  until 
wiring  had  been  put  into  serviceable  condition.  Consumer  did  not  wish  to 
comply  with  request  of  the  company.  Investigation  made  by  the  department 
and  consumer  advised  to  comply. 

No.  2,486.  Street  Lighting.  Consumer  objected  to  arc  lamp  in  front  of 
residence  shining  into  bedroom  and  desired  to  have  shade  placed  on  lamp. 
Referred  to  Dept,  of  G.  &  E.,  who  replied  that  shade  would  not  be  installed. 

No.  2,487.  Discontinuation  of  Service.  Consumer  had  two  contracts.  One 
for  interior  lighting  and  one  for  street  lamp  post.  Desired  to  discontinue 
the  latter  but  C.  E.  Co.  stated  that  service  under  the  interior  lighting  contract 
would  be  discontinued  unless  payments  were  continued  under  the  street  lamp 
contract.  Referred  to  Corporation  Counsel. 

No.  2,488.  Service  Failure.  Complainant  stated  that  his  electric  lighting 
service  failed  at  various  times.  The  fault  could  not  be  located  by  C.  E.  Co. 

15 


Investigation  by  this  department  showed  that  a  defective  link  fuse  and  loose 
connection  caused  the  trouble.  Above  defects*  remedied. 

No.  2,489.  Street  Lighting.  Complainant  desired  to  have  shades  removed 
from  street  lamps.  Referred  to  Dept,  of  G.  &  E.,  who  replied  that  shades 
would  be  removed. 

No.  2,490.  Service  Extension.  C.  E.  Co.  required  a  deposit  for  line  exten¬ 
sion  to  furnish  service.  Investigated  and  referred  to  C.  E.  Co.,  who  refused 
service  connection  without  deposit.  This  department  referred  to  C.  E.  Co.  a 
written  promise  to  the  consumer  to  install  service  and  company  agreed  to 
install  same. 

No.  2,491.  Disputed  Bills.  Consumer  complained  of  high  bills,  stating 
that  his  consumption  had  not  been  equal  to  the  minimum  charge.  Investi¬ 
gation  by  this  department  showed  that  the  consumption  was  less  than  the 
minimum  charge  and  the  company  was  asked  to  rectify  the  bills.  In  reply 
the  company  stated  that  error  had  been  made  and  rectified  bills  were  issued 
to  consumer. 

No.  2,492.  Meter  Test.  Complainant  objected  to  high  bills.  Meter  tested 
and  found  101.7%  accurate. 

No.  2,493.  Rates.  Consumer  objected  to  paying  full  rate  for  service  when 
entitled  to  municipal  rate.  Negotiations  pending. 

No.  2,494.  Condemned  Wiring.  Complainant  desired  to  have  wiring  in¬ 
spected  by  this  department.  Investigation  was  made  and  condemnation  found 
to  be  justifiable. 

No.  2,495.  Service  Delay.  Consumer  complained  that  C.  E.  Co.  was  delay¬ 
ing  in  supplying  service.  Investigation  showed  that  no  application  had  been 
filed  by  the  consumer  for  service.  Consumer  notified  to  file  application. 

No.  2,496.  Service  Extension.  Deposit  required  for  line  extension.  Under 
investigation. 

No.  2,497.  Same  as  No.  2,496. 

No.  2,498.  Street  Lighting  Pole.  Complainant  stated  that  basement  was 
flooded  due  to  setting  an  electric  street  lamp  pole  on  curb.  Investigation 
showed  that  basement  was  flooded  as  a  result  of  stopped  up  sewer.  Re¬ 
ferred  to  Dept,  of  Public  Works. 

No.  2,499.  Service  Extension.  (Same  as  No.  2,496.) 

No,  24,100.  Lamp  Renewal.  Consumer  stated  that  C.  E.  Co.  would  not 
furnish  lamp  renewals.  Investigation  showed  that  the  company  had  in  their 
possession  a  signed  receipt  for  lamps  delivered  to  complainant’s  address. 
Company  delivered  another  set  of  lamps  for  renewal. 

No.  24,101.  Service  Delay.  Complainant  stated  that  four  weeks  had  elapsed 
since  filing  application  for  service.  Desired  to  have  service  as  soon  as 
possible.  Referred  to  Dept.  G.  &  E.  for  inspection  certificate  and  taken  up 
with  C.  E.  Co.  Company  installed  service  on  the  following  day. 

No.  24,102.  Service  Entrance.  Contractor  wished  information  on  installing 
service  to  building  not  accessible  to  a  service  drop  from  C.  E.  Co.  lines  in 
alley.  Informed  that  service  conduit  to  obtain  service  would  not  be  installed 
by  C.  E.  Co. 

No.  24,103.  Service  Increase.  Complainant  objected  to  deposit  required 
by  C.  E.  Co.  for  reinforcing  of  lines  necessary  to  supply  desired  increase  of 
load.  Taken  up  with  company  who  agreed  to  increase  capacity  of  the  service 
without  charge. 

No.  24,104.  Service  Extension.  Deposit  required  for  line  extension  to  sup¬ 
ply  service.  Under  investigation. 

No.  24,105.  Service  Refused.  Complainant  states  that  C.  E.  Co.  has  re¬ 
fused  to  supply  service  to  his  residence.  Under  investigation. 

ELECTRIC  SERVICE  INSPECTION. 

An  investigation  is  being  made  by  the  Electric  Bureau  for  the  purpose  of 
discovering  the  conditions  under  which  electricity  is  bought  and  sold  in  Chi¬ 
cago.  The  areas  covered  up  to  the  present  time  have  been  selected  as  in¬ 
cluding  representative  classes  of  business. 

Those  consumers  who  deal  directly  with  and  pay  their  bills  to  the  Com¬ 
monwealth  Edison  Company  comprise  81  percent  of  the  total.  Such  irregu¬ 
larities  as  have  been  found  in  metering  or  charges  were  adjusted  by  the  com¬ 
pany  when  brought  to  their  attention. 

16 


It  is  found  that  about  three  percent  of  consumers  are  furnished  by  iso¬ 
lated  plants,  about  one-half  of  whom  are  also  owners.  A  considerable  num¬ 
ber  of  such  consumers  receive  service  from  these  plants  without  meters. 

The  class  of  consumers,  about  sixteen  percent  of  the  total,  who  are  fur¬ 
nished  by  jobbers  or  middlemen,  present  an  interesting  problem.  Land¬ 
lords,  agents  or  others  supplying  electricity  to  the  tenants  of  buildings  under 
a  variety  of  terms  of  sale  buy  electricity  from  the  Commonwealth  Edison 
Company  through  a  master  meter  and  retail  the  same  either  through  meters 
or  by  some  other  method  of  determination  of  the  amount  used.  By  reason 
of  his  position,  the  tenant  is  unable  to  deal  direct  with  the  company  supply¬ 
ing  the  electricity.  Rates  vary  from  3  cents  to  15  cents  per  k.w.h.,  while  the 
flat  rates  vary  from  $2.00  per  month  up.  In  numerous  instances,  no  infor¬ 
mation  could  be  obtained  as  to  rates,  such  rates  including  those  where  the 
tenant  or  consumer  did  not  know  his  rate. 

It  seems  to  be  customary  in  this  class  for  the  landlord  to  include  the 
electric  light  bill  in  the  rent.  This  gives  the  tenant  no  idea  as  to  what  he 
pays  for  current  alone  and  does  give  the  landlord  an  opportunity  to  make 
a  profit  on  the  sale  of  electricity.  He,  of  course,  knows  the  cost  to  himself 
wholesale  and  how  much  of  his  tenants’  rent  is  chargeable  to  electricity. 
Where  the  highest  rate  is  charged,  the  consumer  is  in  ignorance  of  the  rates 
provided  by  ordinance  and  the  agent  has  often  taken  advantage  of  his 
ignorance. 

Where  the  lowest  rate,  that  of  3  cents,  occurred,  is  a  noteworthy  case. 
An  owner  of  a  building,  used  for  stores  and  manufacturing,  purchases  elec¬ 
tricity  for  the  entire  building  on  a  wholesale  rate  which  has  varied  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  information  furnished  by  the  agent,  from  3  cents  to  5  cents  per 
k.w.h.  Each  tenant  has  an  individual  meter,  which  he  owns  personally,  and 
the  owner  in  his  own  plant  in  the  building  also  has  an  individual  meter  for 
the  plant.  The  elevator  service  is  also  metered  by  an  individual  meter.  To 
determine  the  amount  to  be  paid  to  the  landlord  by  each  tenant  for  elec¬ 
tricity,  the  following  is  observed:  from  the  total  consumption  shown  by  the 
master  meter  is  subtracted  the  consumption  shown  by  the  elevator  service 
meter.  The  remainder  is  divided  pro  rata  among  the  tenants  as  shown  by 
the  consumption  indicated  by  their  separate  meters.  They  then  pay  the 
landlord  for  their  pro  rata  consumption  at  the  rate  that  he  has  paid  to  the 
Commonwealth  Edison  Company.  The  more  tenants  in  the  building  and  the 
greater  their  consumption,  the  lower  the  rate.  Both  light  and  power  are 
taken  through  the  same  master  meter.  No  charge  is  made  to  tenants  for 
the  elevator  service  except  that  it  may  be  accounted  for  as  part  of  the 
rent.  The  tenants  here  are  benefited  by  a  much  lower  rate  for  electricity 
than  other  consumers  of  the  same  size  and  class. 

Flat  rates  are  in  general  established  arbitrarily  by  the  jobber  without  any 
reference  to  any  established  rating  and  may  be  to  the  advantage  of  the  con¬ 
sumer  on  dark  days  and  to  his  disadvantage  on  light  days.  In  one  instance 
where  a  landlord  is  furnishing  light  to  32  tenants,  the  rate,  as  nearly  as  could 
be  estimated  to  the  tenants  paying  for  electricity  with  their  rent,  was  7  cents 
net  per  k.w.h.,  to  two  tenants  $2.00  flat  per  month;  and  to  one  other  tenant 
a  rate  of  11  cents,  6  cents  and  5  cents  with  1  .cent  discount.  This  landlord 
is  a  heavy  consumer,  his  lowest  rate  being  as  low  as  1.1  cents  per  k.w.h.  He 
not  only  makes  a  large  profit  on  his  sales  of  electricity,  but  his  consumers 
help  him  to  get  a  lower  average  wholesale  rate  due  to  an  increased  consump¬ 
tion. 

In  a  few  cases  the  tenants  informed  the  inspector  that  they  paid  an  amount 
fixed  each  month  by  the  landlord,  but  as  to  how  this  amount  was  arrived  at 
was  not  known  to  them. 

About  fifty  percent  of  the  consumers  stated  that  their  meters  were  to 
their  knowledge  tested  recently  and  about  fourteen  percent  stated  that  their 
meters  were  to  their  knowledge  never  tested.  Approximately  twenty-two 
percent  stated  that  they  did  not  know  whether  their  meters  were  ever  tested 
or  not.  The  remaining  fourteen  percent  never  have  their  meters  tested  and 
there  is  no  provision  made  for  testing.  This  class  is  composed  of  those  con¬ 
sumers  who  buy  from  individual  plants  or  jobbers. 

Their  lack  of  knowledge  of  exact  conditions  governing  the  use  and  pur¬ 
chase  of  electricity  and  the  wide  variation  in  the  rates  indicates  the  neces- 

17 


sity  for  supervision  over  the  service  and  the  value  of  a  well  maintained  system 
of  meter  inspection. 

The  vast  majority  of  the  consumers  were  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  they 
could  have  recourse  to  the  department  in  case  of  disputes  or  complaints  re* 
garding  tlieir  electric  service,  and  the  wide  variations  in  the  rates  at  which 
electricity  is  sold  has  given  this  Bureau  an  opportunity  to  render  valuable  serv¬ 
ice  to  the  public. 


VOLTAGE  REGULATION. 

The  factors  which  affect  voltage  variation  are  so  numerous  and  of  such 
nature  as  to  render  any  general  rule,  placing  specific  limitations  upon  such 
voltage  variation,  regulation  or  fluctuation,  inoperative  in  a  great  many,  if 
not  in  the  majority  of  cases.  The  question  which  arises  is  whether  it  wouid 
not  be  preferable  to  deal  with  quality  of  service  in  the  same  manner  in 
which  regulating  bodies  deal  with  rates,  rather  than  to  adopt  a  general  rule 
which  must  be  ignored  or  excepted  in  the  cases  as  above  cited. 

The  demand  for  close  voltage  regulation  has  arisen  chiefly  from  the  use 
of  the  incandescent  electric  lamp.  The  tendency  with  manufacturers  has 
been  to  produce  a  lamp  using  less  energy  per  unit  of  light  and  also  less  sub¬ 
ject  to  variation  with  a  decrease  or  increase  in  voltage. 

Table  showing  effect  of  voltage  variation  on  the  operation  of  incandescent 
lamps. 


(All  values 

in  per  cent.) 

Voltage. 

Type. 

Candle  Power. 

Life. 

Carbon 

75.0 

270 

95% 

Metalized 

77.4 

253 

Mazda 

83.4 

185 

Carbon 

85.0 

175 

97% 

Metalized 

86.0 

173 

Mazda 

90.0 

145 

Carbon 

100 

100 

100% 

Metalized 

100 

100 

Mazda 

100 

100 

Carbon 

118.0 

48 

103% 

Metalized 

114.0 

62 

Mazda 

110.0 

65 

Carbon 

131.0 

34 

105% 

Metalized 

125.0 

44 

Mazda 

118.0 

50 

The  failure  to 

maintain  a  voltage 

regulation  within  certain 

limits  mr 

result  in  two  sources  of  complaint  of  service.  One  due  to  a  temporary  de¬ 
crease  in  voltage  caused  by  the  connection  of  heavy  motors  to  the  line  or  to 
the  application  of  otherwise  heavy  load  and  having  its  effect  before  such  motor 
has  been  started  or  before  the  feeder  regulators  have  had  time  to  operate. 
This  produces  an  annoyance  to  the  user  of  light  in  the  way  of  a  decreased 
illumination  which  lasts  for  .only  a  few  moments  but  which  becomes  in¬ 
creasingly  annoying  with  its  frequency  of  occurrence.  The  second  source  of 
complaint  may  be  due  to  a  decrease  in  illumination  to  the  point  when  it  is 
insufficient  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  used. 

Any  rule  regarding  voltage  regulation  would  need  to  consider  both  condi¬ 
tions  and  it  would  seem  desirable  to  specify  the  limit  of  time  over  which  the 
maximum  variation  should  last.  To  remedy  the  first  mentioned  condition 
would  necessitate  that  the  limiting  clause  include  instantaneous  variations. 
This  would  produce  a  condition  of  service  which  would  not  be  demanded  in 
certain  localities  due  to  the  expense  involved. 

The  demands  for  constant  voltage  is  a  demand  for  a  steady  and  sufficient 
light  and  satisfactory  operation  of  electrical  apparatus. 

The  limits  of  satisfactory  illumination  for  any  given  operation  are  widely 
separated,  varying  from  100%  to  500%.  To  obtain  a  proper  illumination  un¬ 
der  conditions  of  voltage  variations  it  is  only  necessary  to  allow  the  proper 
amount  in  excess  of  the  lower  limit  or  that  which  is  considered  proper.  The 
difference  in  illumination  between  95%  and  97%  of  normal  voltage  is  7%. 

18 


To  raise  the  general  requirement  from  5%  to  3%  variation  from  standard 
would  thus  insure  a  7%  increased  illumination  from  a  given  lighting  installation 
of  Mazda  lamps.  The  same  result  can  he  obtained  by  allowing  a  7%  increase  in 
the  original  installation  or  by  increasing  the  size  of  existing  lamps.  The 
power  cost  need  not  be  increased  over  7%.  To  obtain  an  equivalent  result 
by  closer  regulation  (3%)  would  in  many  cases  require  an  expenditure  far 
in  excess  of  this  amount.  This  may  be  appreciated  by  considering  the  fact 
that  power  which  can  be  generated  for  less  than  1c  per  kilowatt  hour  must 
be  sold  for  from  3  to  10  cents  in  order  to  provide  the  return  which  various 
regulating  bodies  have  seen  fit  to  grant. 

The  carbon  lamp  due  to  its  high  cost  of  operation  should  be  considered 
as  an  obsolete  type. 

The  various  factors  which  are  of  prime  importance  in  the  design  of  elec¬ 
tric  transmission  and  distribution  systems  are  largely  ones  of  economic  im¬ 
portance.  The  line  losses,  and  therefore,  to  a  corresponding  extent,  the  line 
drop  in  pressure  are  governed  by  balancing  the  value  of  the  saving  of  the 
energy  lost  in  the  line  against  the  increased  capital  charges  necessary  to 
raise  the  voltage  or  to  provide  heavier  copper. 

In  current  practice  for  any  but  metropolitan  districts,  distribution  circuits 
are  designed  for  an  8  to  10  per  cent  loss  and  secondaries  or  services  for  a 
2%  loss.  When  there  is  added  to  this  a  1%  drop  in  the  transformer  in  case 
of  alternating  current  systems,  we  have  under  most  favorable  conditions 
(lighting  load)  a  drop  of  from  11  to  13  per  cent  at  the  most  economical  load 
for  the  line.  Under  extreme  conditions  of  load  this  drop  will  increase  from 
10  to  50  per  cent  (depending  upon  the  load  factor  of  the  feeder),  causing  a 
maximum  drop  of  from  12  to  20  per  cent  in  the  distribution  system.  The 
voltage  fluctuation  here  produced  would  be  of  the  same  magnitude. 

This  voltage  variation  is  met  in  practice  by  the  installation  of  boosters 
or  regulators  on  the  feeders  for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  the  voltage  con¬ 
stant  at  some  point  near  the  center  of  load.  Applied  to  the  tree  system  of 
distribution,  which  is  in  use  in  many  cities  of  from  10,000  to  20,000,  the  varia¬ 
tion  on  the  longer  branches  will  yet  exceed  50%  of  the  above  range  of  varia¬ 
tion.  Thus  there  is  a  variation  of  from  6  to  10  per  cent  on  lighting  circuits 
designed  and  operated  on  what  is  judged  by  competent  engineers  to  be  about 
the  limit  of  economy,  except  where  the  load  is  very  heavy. 

That  the  demands  of  a  3%  regulation  can  be  met  without  unwarranted 
capital  charges  in  dense  metropolitan  districts  there  may  be  no  question, 
but  to  require  less  than  a  5%  regulation  as  applying  to  the  entire  service  of 
a  larger  system  is  to  call  for  the  installation  of  numerous  substations  for 
transformation  and  control,  and  an  enormous  investment  in  copper. 

In  the  smaller  towns  where  service  at  reasonable  rates  can  be  supplied 
only  by  installing  an  outdoor  substation,  fed  from  a  nearby  transmission  line 
and  operating  same  without  constant  attendance,  the  problem  of  maintain¬ 
ing  a  service  resolves  itself  into  one  of  furnishing  electricity  at  a  rate  at 
which  the  people  can  afford  to  use  it,  i.  e.,  that  of  supplying  something  which 
is  infinitely  superior  to  what  the  community  may  have  even  though  the  regu¬ 
lation  may  not  be  good. 

The  production  of  an  ever  decreasing  voltage  variation  can  be  made  only 
at  an  ever  increasing  operating  cost  for  attendance,  and  an  increased  invest¬ 
ment,  and  therefore,  an  increasing  capital  charge. 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  reduction  of  the  allowable  voltage  fluctuation 
to  3%,  above  or  below  a  standard  value,  would  necessitate  the  expenditure 
of  large  sums  of  money  for  equipment  in  many  of  the  larger  cities  of  the 
state.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  capital  would  be  reluctant  to  finance  such 
necessary  expenditures.  Public  utility  securities  have  in  general  been  put 
upon  a  firmer  basis  where  adequate  regulation  exists  and  are  considered  safe 
for  investment  purposes.  Any  expenditure  in  plant  or  distribution  which 
tends  to  improve  the  quality  of  service  at  no  increased  rate,  or  which  tends  to 
reduce  the  rate  without  impairment  of  quality  can  easily  be  justified.  But  if 
a  rule  is  adopted  requiring  a  regulation  not  demanded  by  the  service,  which 
adds  to  equipment  and  operating  cost,  its  necessity  or  justice  should  be  ques¬ 
tioned.  In  future  valuations  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  or  fixing  of  rates 
these  expenditures  must  be  taken  into  consideration;  not  only  for  the  in¬ 
creased  cost  of  equipment,  but  in  many  cases  for  the  replacement  of  equip¬ 
ment.  Utility  companies  might  be  able  to  use  the  rule  as  a  means  of  unduly 

19 


increasing  capital  charges  and  the  rates  to  all  would  be  raised  for  the  benefit 
of  the  few  who  desire  very  close  voltage  regulation. 

Should  a  rule  be  adopted  limiting  the  allowable  voltage  variation  to  a 
specific  value  for  all  cases,  one  of  three  actions  must  result  as  follows: 

1.  The  companies  must  comply  with  the  rule. 

2.  The  rule  must  be  waived. 

3.  The  Commission  must  overlook  non-compliance  with  the  rule. 

Should  the  companies  comply  with  the  rule  the  managements  of  the  conn 

panies  are  likely  to  remember,  when  charges  for  extravagance  are  brought 
against  them,  the  unwise  expenditures  of  money  in  an  effort  to  produce,  un¬ 
der  Commission  orders,  a  class  and  condition  of  service  not  demanded  by  the 
consumers. 

Should  it  be  found  advisable  to  waive  the  rule  a  hearing  must  be  granted 
to  each  case  before  any  action  can  be  taken.  This  would  result  in  a  larger 
number  of  cases  coming  before  the  Commission  than  would  be  the  case  if 
only  just  complaints  of  inadequate  service  were  presented  for  hearing. 

If  the  rule  is  overlooked  by  the  Commission,  it  would  become  a  target  for 
persons  wishing  to  make  political  capital  by  filing,  with  the  Commission,  com¬ 
plaints  for  minor  violations. 

After  careful  consideration  by  the  Department  of  Public  Service  it  is 
thought  that  the  quality  of  service  is  a  factor  affecting  rates  to  such  an  ex¬ 
tent  that  it  should  be  so  treated  by  the  Commission.  This  would  eliminate 
the  possibility  of  fixing  any  value  for  allowable  voltage  variation  applicable 
to  the  general  case. 


20 


